Indonesia Keeps Cautious Stance on Critical Mineral Exports to US, Says Minister Bahlil
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesia remains in the early stages of negotiation over potential exports of critical minerals to the United States, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025.
When asked about the latest developments, Bahlil described the discussions as still informal. “It’s still just talk. We’re in the lobbying phase,” he said at the ministry’s headquarters in Jakarta.
The statement comes as trade relations between Jakarta and Washington evolve under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has reduced reciprocal import tariffs on Indonesian goods from 32% to 19%. In return, Washington has reportedly asked Jakarta to lift restrictions on the export of critical minerals.
However, Bahlil underscored that Indonesia would not offer the US any special treatment, reaffirming President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to equal opportunity for all international partners in downstream mineral development.
“Downstreaming is the President’s top priority. Every country is welcome—China, Japan, the US, Europe, all the same. We will handle their interests equally. There’s no special treatment,” said Bahlil, who previously served as Investment Minister.
Indonesia has imposed a ban on the export of raw nickel ore since July 2023 and extended the restrictions to copper concentrate as of Jan. 1, 2025, under the provisions of the Mineral and Coal Law, known locally as UU Minerba.
These restrictions have drawn international attention, particularly from the US government, which has pushed Indonesia to loosen its policies on outbound shipments of critical minerals.
Clarifying the current scope of negotiations, Energy Ministry Secretary-General Dadan Kusdiana said that the US was requesting access to “industrial commodities,” not raw materials.
“What they’re referring to is industrial commodities. That’s the exact phrase. As for ore exports, we already don’t allow them—our laws prohibit it,” Dadan said.
The comments suggest that while Indonesia is open to cooperation, it is unlikely to relax its raw material export ban. Instead, it aims to direct foreign interest toward value-added investment opportunities within the country’s downstream sector.
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